Egypt challenges Corona by hosting the World Hand Championship
In a few days, the most important sporting event will start during the first half of 2021, which is Egypt's organization of the 27th World Handball Championship, which Al-Mahrousa will host from January 13 to January 31.
32 of our teams are participating in the tournament for the first time in history, and it is a very big challenge for the mother of the world to be able to host this huge number of teams in addition to holding the tournament in light of these conditions sweeping the whole world in light of the outbreak of the emerging "Corona" virus.
Egypt is hosting the FIFA World Cup for the second time in its history, and it was the only previous host for the World Cup in Egypt in 1999, but the difference between the two editions, separated by 22 years, is very different.
Record Post
The 2021 edition will witness a record participation in the World Cup with the presence of 32 teams for the first time in the history of the world championship after the decision of the International Federation of the Game to increase the number of teams that compete in the tournament.
Dr. Hassan Mustafa, President of the International Federation of the Game, defended this decision in a previous dialogue on the official website of the tournament, stressing that it is in favor of the future of the game, technically and marketing.
The participation of 32 teams will be a great challenge for Egypt at the organizational level and providing accommodation and training rooms in an appropriate manner, which is the same challenge that Egypt faced in the summer of 2019 when it hosted the African Cup of Nations for football after increasing the number of its teams to 24 teams.
In comparison between the 2021 and 1999 editions, the difference seems wide in terms of the participating teams. The 1999 edition was held in the summer between June 1 and 15, 1999 with the participation of only 24 teams.
The challenge of combating the outbreak of the Coronavirus increases the burden of organizing, and this will be a serious test also in light of the increase in the number of participating teams.
Lounges and public attendance
The 1999 edition was held in 3 cities, namely Cairo, Ismailia and Port Said, and had a distinguished public presence.
The match between Egypt and Tunisia, in addition to the meeting between Egypt and Russia, in the eight and quarter-final stages, was the most attended version with 25,000 fans in the Cairo Stadium hall.
The 2021 edition faces a major challenge at the level of public attendance after the decision to attend 30% of the hall capacity for fans, with full commitment to all necessary precautionary and medical measures.
The 2021 matches will be held in two cities only: Cairo and Alexandria, on 4 covered halls: Cairo Stadium, the New Administrative Capital, 6th of October, and Borg El Arab in Alexandria.
Egypt succeeded in developing the four halls in a remarkable way and establishing the administrative capital and 6th of October halls.
Hassan Mustafa the common denominator
Dr. Hassan Mostafa, President of the International Handball Federation, remains the common denominator between the 1999 and 2021 editions of Egypt.
Hassan Mostafa was president of the Egyptian Handball Federation (1984-1992) and then took over the task between 1996 and 2008, at the time of hosting the World Series of the Game in Egypt for the first time.
This year, Hassan Mustafa played a major role in following up preparations for hosting the World Cup on the land of Egypt.
